Serving up advice for those working towards a career as a CPA.
May 2024
Adam Rogers, CPA
Audit Senior, Deloitte
KyCPA member
Why did you decide to become a CPA? If there was a defining moment, tell us about it.
In my sophomore year at the University of Kentucky (UK) I took my first accounting class as an economics major. I found it incredibly challenging but as I learned more about the fundamentals, I gained an appreciation of the aspects of accounting that are akin to learning a language or a puzzle. After taking this first course, I changed my major to accounting and proceeded to have some incredible accounting professors at UK. After deciding to pursue a degree in accounting, becoming a CPA seemed like a logical next step to me and while the path felt somewhat daunting, I was excited by the challenge of completing the exam before finishing school.
What is your favorite thing about your current position?
In my role as an auditor, I love that I get the opportunity to interact with many different people from a variety of different backgrounds, as well as experience different business environments and industries. In a given day, I’ll collaborate with members of my team based in the same regional area as me, team members overseas, and clients in a variety of roles. Everyone I work with brings a different and valuable point of view to the table. In my two years in this role, I have learned so much, largely because of my exposure to so many different perspectives.
What is your day-to-day like in your current position?
In my experience, one of the great things about being an auditor is that no two days are the same- there is no standard day-to-day. There are many different hats that you get to wear, which keeps the job exciting.
What attributes, skills are good to have as a CPA?
Adaptability, being a team player, and willingness to learn are important skills for any CPA. However, I think the most important skill is communication. Accounting roles are so collaborative, and being able to effectively convey information and listen to your team members is necessary.
Where do you think the accounting industry is headed in the future?
An exciting thing for new CPAs is we are entering the accounting field at a time when no one knows exactly what the industry will look like, even a few years from now. In the past year, Generative AI seems to have gone from a fairly unused technology to something that I think could soon be a common tool for any accounting job. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, I’ve noticed that remote work has led to more global collaboration. While I’m based in Louisville, I work with team members in what feels like every part of the world, and emerging technologies make this work more convenient and efficient. It’s hard to say where exactly these changes will take the accounting industry in the future, but I’m excited to see how they continue to change the industry.
